Halfway Down the Stairs

Monday, September 29, 2008

In Which She Keeps Her Promise.

I promised an FO today.

Lacuna

Pattern:Lacuna from Terry Ross Designs Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock - Lightweight Color: One of the Raven colorways Needles: Knitpicks Harmony DPN's in size 1 Started: June 20, 2008 Completed: September 25, 2008. Note: Love this pattern, love this yarn. I love this yarn so much I had to go to the Blue Moon website and order a few more skeins. Sigh. I am so weak.

The Greenjeans sweater is off the needles - I just need to block it. Maybe tomorrow's project.

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Next!

This project is going along in the car this weekend. Mr. Greenjeans just needs some ends sewn in and the button-band ribbing finished - oh and probably a good blocking. The Lacuna socks are finished and ready for show and tell on Monday!

Everyone is reading this weekend at the cabin - Puck has to finish Jack London's White Fang, and the Teenager has to finish reading The Illead and The Aeneid for his Enriched English Ancient Literature class. (He likes them!) I'm just going to plug in my iPod and grab my knitting, I've got a few episodes of Stash and Burn to catch up on.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

I could not resist these cute bags I found on Etsy - I've already tucked sock yarn inside those cute things! The shop's name is stuckinillinois and these bags were a serious bargain at $10/each!

Football Update:Wow, Puck's team was dealt their first defeat last night and it was painful in so many ways. They started out playing tough, but the other team was physically MUCH bigger than our boys. Our biggest player started out the game pulling a muscle in his back. One kid out. The coach's kid took a shoe to the mouth and complained that his tooth felt loose, later in the game he wound up in the bottom of a pile and came running out with three teeth pulled out - held in place by his braces. OMG. (His Orthodontist was able to replace them - there was no root damage - UGH!) Finally, our #1 scorer was tackled from both sides, both tacklers were a head taller than he was and put their heads down when they hit him, they broke his arm. I think I'm glad he's decided he doesn't want to play football anymore after this year.

We're off to the cabin this weekend as the pontoon needs to come out of the water. Always so sad. I'll schedule a post or two, but they're never as fun as the live ones, y'know?

Mr. Greenjeans is in the middle of his second sleeve. I've been watching all the Heroes episodes I've missed in the last year and half so I can be caught up for this year - I am crossing my fingers that it lives up to it's original promise! Believe it or not, stockinette + cables is working OK.

These are the Lacuna socks, which have been hanging around FOR-EVER, but they really are an easy knit, so once I pick them up, they fly. I'm thinking by next Monday, I'll have an FO or two to show off.

In the meantime, Puck has a big game tonight. It's going to be their toughest match so far, so cross your fingers for the big guy!

2. How long have you been at your craft? Since I was nine years old, so ummm wow - a few decades.

3. Do you spin? If yes do you use drop spindle or wheel. Nope.

4. What is your favorite color? I like just about everything but pastel green.5. Do you have any other hobbies? Does drinking wine count?6. What are your favorite yarns/fibers? I love the Tencel/bamboo combo yarns.

8. Are there any yarns that you’ve been eyeing and wanting to try? I yearn for Sundara Yarn - very hard to get.

9. What are you currently working on? Mr. Greenjeans and several pairs of socks.

10. What is your favorite Finished Object? (Pictures are welcome.)

An Eyelet Cardi - a gift for my SIL .

A load of Preemie Hats.

11. Are their any knitting/crochet techniques that you would like to learn? Not that I can think of.12. What is you favorite type of book or movie? Love Sci Fi, Fiction and Classics.13. Who is your favorite person at Hogwarts? Dumbledore14. Favorite class and/or subject at Hogwarts? Oh, Potions - of course.15. How many family members do you have? Four16. What is your favorite Fall activity? Football17. How many projects do you have on your needles/hook? Ummm, Ravelry says 8.18. What is your favorite type of footwear? Clogs.19. What is your favorite beverage of choice? Wine.20. What is your favorite park of Half-blood Prince? How do you choose?

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Mr. Greenjeans:

The latest WIP. They weren't kidding when everybody said what a fast knit this is. Yea, the cables slow you down just a little bit, but it's so pretty when it's done. I'm actually an inch from the bottom since I took this photo. I also changed the cable a little bit - five rows of stockinette instead of three between each cable row. One of these days I'm going to learn some basic Photo Shop so I can tone down my reds, pinks and oranges.

I'm watching last year's season of Heroes - I only caught the first show last year, so I rented it on Netflix. Excellent knitting viewing.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

and just where is Captain Kangaroo? (Sorry, could NOT resist.) My friend Rani wanted to know just what or who Greenjeans was - why this cute sweater that is now on the needles! Hi Rani! (Oh look, she's talking about me and she's saying nice things! Guess I'll be passing that on soon.) Mr. Greenjeans is from Knitty Fall of 2007. May I also be the ten millionth person to chant: The new Knitty is up the new Knitty is up!

Yes, I know I have two different Options needles on that cord. I keep having glue issues with the wooden needles and it makes me sad because I love them so much! Needles why you doin' me dirt?

Tuesday, September 09, 2008

Heavens! This Sock Took Forever!

But, it really is so pretty.

I cast on the second sock, but it's having a little rest in my knitting bag. It is sweater-time!

I'm a few rows away from finishing my little brown cardi, and I cast on Greenjeans!!! (I'd like a metal clasp for the brown cardi - any recommendations for me?) In the meantime, this migraine is eating my brain. I had to cancel some dental work this morning because I knew the first finger in my mouth would trigger some very bad things.

I'm wearing clogs and handknit socks today, it is a chilly one. More 7th grade football tomorrow, I may need some more sweaters soon.

Sunday, September 07, 2008

Current Item of Torture:

For some reason this sock is torturing me. This 100% wool is sooooo sticky - I love the finished material and I think it will block up beautifully, but this is torturously slow to knit. I am going to have to cast on a sweater when this halfling is finished. (Pattern is Whistle Bait from Terry Ross Designs - it really is gorgeous.)

EPHS won their second football game, we stayed until halftime. Seriously cold last night people. Final score was 45-0, EP v. Chaska. Now the Puck has to go out to Chaska today and play one of the 7th grade teams. It's not gonna be pretty, peeps.

Remember I was chatting away about Cosmic Fibers' Etsy store last week? Well, here is the net result of what dharmafey threw together for me!

A little note of explanation - she does "theme" yarns. I have a skein of Dexter yarn that I may never knit up I love it so much. I saw on her Etsy site that she had dyed some skeins themed with the Moonlight television show (sadly, now canceled).

This is Vamped - it's an icy color reminiscent of the color the vamps' eyes turned when they got "hungry".

This is Moonlight - a direct lift from the opening credits - this will be a lovely "manly" pair of socks.

Lastly, we have Mick, who grew on me as I watched all the shows, (I wasn't so sure at the beginning.)

So, I do believe the budget is shot for now, but I have some sock projects that I am looking forward to - not to mention Greenjeans!

Thursday, September 04, 2008

The Other Pair:

Pattern:Arch Shaped Socks by Jen Showalter at Meangirl.com (PDF link) Yarn:Tess Designer Yarns this was a gift from an old swap partner. Color: Kiwi Green Needles: Knitpicks Harmony DPN's in size 1.5 Started: August 8, 2008 Completed: September 1, 2008. Note: I love the shaping in this pattern - I'd like to give it a whirl with some variegated yarn.

Also, if you are looking for a pretty Christmas gift - Bellamoden is taking pre-orders for a GORGEOUS scarf kit. Check out her Etsy site.

Wednesday, September 03, 2008

The Weekend's FO:

or, one of 'em anyway.

Pattern:Grandiflora by Laura Patterson Yarn:Handmaiden Casbah (I bought it at Y4S - but they are out of it right now.) Color: Seafoam Needles: Knitpicks Harmony DPN's in size 1 Started: August 15, 2008 Completed: August 28, 2008. Note: Well, the pattern on this one at least made it all the way down the cuff. Then I could not master the pattern in the foot - so I switched to stockinette. I noticed the errata page on Ravelry as I was writing this up!

The tribe has gone back to school, 7th and 11th grade. Great googly mooglies, when and how? The weather has cooled and I have new yarns to add to Ravelry. I am really feelin' the sweater mojo right now. I am a couple of TV nights away from finishing this little cardi:

After that, we are casting on the new stuff! Mmm-hmmm!

Tonight we have football! Puck's team has their first game of the year on a lovely chilly night.

About Me

I am a 49 year old SAHM (going on 9 years now). I have two teenagers, and a wonderful DH who underwrites this whole project************************
My childhood:
Halfway down the stairs Is a stair Where I sit. There isn't any Other stair Quite like It. I'm not at the bottom, I'm not at the top; So this is the stair Where I always Stop. Halfway up the stairs Isn't up, And isn't down. It isn't in the nursery, It isn't in the town. And all sorts of funny thoughts Run round my head: "It isn't really Anywhere! It's somewhere else Instead!" a.a. Milne